Machine for treating collapsible tubes in continuous flow

ABSTRACT

A machine for printing, varnishing and labelling collapsible tubes has a unit formed of two boxlike legs forming an L. The upright leg supports a work transferring device which transfers work pieces between an endless conveyor and a revolving work holding head carried by the horizontal leg copperating with a printing, varnishing or labelling mechanism carried by the same leg. All parts of the unit are driven by a single motor. The printing devices are mounted for ready removal and replacement.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Kurt G. Hinterkopf Max-Eyth-Strasse 11, Eislingen Fils, Germany [21 1 Appl. No. 714,723

[22] Filed Mar. 20, 1968 [45] Patented Feb. 23, 1971 [32] Priority Mar. 20, 1967 [3 3] Germany [54] MACHINE FOR TREATING COLLAPSIBLE TUBES IN CONTINUOUS FLOW 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. [52] 11.8. CI. 101/38, 1 18/46, 101/216 [51] Int. Cl B4lf17/20 [50] Field of Search 101/38- 40, 35, 216; 118/46, 230 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 920,870 5/1909 l-lodgman 1 l8/46X 1,947,] 71 2/1934 Prussing 101/40UX 2,288,617 7/1942 118/46 2,746,421 5/1956 Biddulph 118/46 2,950,805 8/1960 Heimlicher et al. 118/46X 3,176,823 4/1965 DErrico 101/4OX 3,227,070 l/1966 Brigham et 31.. 101/40 3,283,739 11/1966 l-linterkopf 10l/35X 1,329,325 l/1920 Mascord 101/216 3,173,360 3/1965 Hamilton 101/216X Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner- Clifford D. Crowder Attorney-Jennings Bailey, Jr.

ABSTRACT: A machine for printing, varnishing and labelling collapsible tubes has a unit formed of two boxlike legs forming an L. The upright leg supports a work transferring device which transfers work pieces between an endless conveyor and a revolving work holding head carried by the horizontal leg cooperating with a printing, varnishing or labelling mechanism carried by the same leg. All parts of the unit are driven by a single motor. The printing devices are mounted for ready removal and replacement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Machine for treating collapsible tubes by an operation of the group containing the operations of printing, varnishing and labelling the workpieces in a continuous flow.

The invention is concerned with a machine for treating collapsible tubes by one of the operations of printing, varnishing and labelling the workpieces in a continuous flow. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a machine of that kind which consists of several processing or working groups or units arranged in succession to one another and connected with each other by a conveyor element in the form of an endless conveyor chain, wherein at least one of said processing or working groups contains a printing unit acting as the tool of the said unit and a revolving work holding head that carries the workpieces onto spindles and offers them successively in the course of its step-by-step motion to the said tool, a work transferring device or mechanism being provided for transferring the said workpieces from the said revolving head to the said conveyor chain andvice versa, said work transferring device being synchronized with the said revolving head and the said conveyor chain.

2. The Prior Art With known machines of this kind the whole line or layout or machine must be stopped whenever a new typographical pattern is to be prepared and the adjustment of the said printing unit is to be changed. Such changing operations require hours of work and the loss of time caused hereby is relatively great, a fact that becomes of importance as soon as the series of pieces to be treated is small and the total working time necessary therefor is relatively short; for in such cases the relation between the working time required for treating and finishing the said small series and the working time to be spent in exchanging the typographical patterns and adjusting the printing unit is especially unfavorable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to eliminate the above disproportion.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the kind here in question with which within a processing or working group the said printing unit, the said revolving head and the said work transferring device are combined and united to form a unit complete per se which has a closed blocklike casing and which has at least one driving device coordinated directly or indirectly to the said printing unit, said printing unit detachably connected with the said driving device allotted thereto being removably attached to the said unit complete per se, for example, by being screwed to the said casing or by being attached thereto by means of a so-called rapid fastening device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the kind here in question with which the production line or machine or layout need not be stopped at all or only for a space of time that does not matter, for allowing the printing unit to be substituted to be adjusted while the production line or machine works as usual and only requires then the printing unit in use to be taken out of the frame or casing and replaced by the printing unit just adjusted, this latter operation being quickly done.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the kind here in question in which the printing unit is to be repaired can be replaced by a new printing unit without loss of time whereby there is no need to stop the production line or machine for a longer time and practically it may be kept running uninterruptedly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description thereof, particularly when the same is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a machine or layout in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2a is a diagrammatic side view of a working group containing a printing unit and forming a part of the arrangement presented in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is a diagrammatic plan view of the arrangement according to FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a working group containing a lacquer applying unit and forming part of a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4a is a partial diagrammatical side view of a detail of another modified embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4b is a partial plan view of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The machine or layout represented in FIG. 1 consists of a first processing or working group 1 provided with a lacquer applying varnishing aggregate or unit 2 which cooperates withthe revolving work holding head 3 and to which there is coordinated or allotted on the one hand the conveyor chain 4 and on the other hand the work transfer device 5. The workpieces are taken-as soon as varnished-4o the drying stove 6 by means of the conveyor chain 4, and from here on to the processing or working group 7, which contains a printing unit 8, a revolving work holding head 9 and again a work transfer device 10 (see applicants US. Pat. No. 3,283,739). On having passed the printing unit, the tubes with their printing finished are taken through the dryer or drying stove and from here on to the packing station, whereupon the empty conveyor chain moves through 11 back to the unit 1.

As shown in FIGS. 2a and 212 according to the invention the arrangement is such that the printing unit 8, the revolving head 9 and the transfer device 10 of the working group, namely the unit 7 which is coordinated to the revolving head as well as to the conveyor chain are combined to form a block which constitutes a unit per se and has a casing constructed in blocklike manner. The said unit has a driving aggregate of its own, allotted to the printing unit and constituted by the motor 12. The printing unit is disengageably connected with the driving aggregate allotted thereto and is removably attached to the casing of the device or machine by being screwed to the block by the screws 21 an 22. Each block is shaped like an L having two boxlike-shaped legs 1a and 1b, whereof the upstanding leg 1a contains the transfer device, whereas the horizontal leg lb carries the printing unit 8 and the revolving work holding head 9. These two parts la, 1b of the box-type design are releasably flanged together. The printing unit is set onto the casing of the processing or working group in the area of the free end of the so-called cross beam or horizontal leg opposite to, or turned away from, the transfer device 10; the revolving work holding head 9 is situated between the printing unit and the vertical or upstanding leg 1a, the so-called vertical beam. As already said, there is provided one driving motor only which is the source of driving power transmitted to the work transfer device 10 and to the coordinated or allotted conveyor chain (as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,283,739) by means of, or through, the chain or belt drive 13 and the corresponding wheel 14, another driving power being also transmitted to the revolving work holding head 9 and to the printing unit 8 by means of, or through, the chain or belt drive 15 and the wheels or gears 16 and 17 and, further, the chain or belt drive 18. The driving power to the printing unit is transmitted to by two toothed wheels 19 and 20, one of which is rotatably mounted on the casing of the working unit or processing or working group, the other being rotatably mounted on the removable printing unit or its casing. These wheels 19 and 20 can be easily disconnected by removing the printing unit after unscrewing it, for example, at the points 21, 22, whereafter the printing unit can be carried off suspended at 23 on a crane or the like. if to the working unit there is allotted or coordinated according to the invention a plurality of printing units, namely at least two of such printing units, which printing units are interchangeable, then it is possible to adjust the one printing unit for performing other work while having at the same time the machine or'plant or layout running and working; this done, the printing unit 8 may be taken off and replaced by the newly fitted and adjusted printing unit and there is for the machine or layout no standstill of substantial length which could disturb the operation.

In addition to this, in the embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b the printing unit can be rotatable with respect to the revolving work holding head about a vertical axis, for which purpose the printing unit 30 is arranged on a supporting plate 31 carried by a base plate 32 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis 34. The base plate 32 is in its turn guided on the upper side of the horizontal leg of the casing so as to be rectilinearly displaceable to and fro according to the arrow 35 in a direction toward the revolving work holding head an away from it. The supporting plate 31 turns round the pivot 34 and is provided with bolts 38 and 39 which engage into the slits 36 and 37 of the base plate 32 which have the shape of circular arcs. The boltlike screws 40 and 41 serve to adjust the supporting plate.

The printing unit may also be interchangeable with a varnishing aggregate or lacquer applying unit and vice versa. If a varnishing aggregate or lacquer applying unit is used to replace the printing unit, a special drive is provided especially coordinated or allotted to the said varnishing aggregate or lacquer applying unit and to the spindles holding the work of the revolving head. in accordance with FIG. 3 the varnishing aggregate or lacquer applying unit 51 is removably attached to the L-like frame 52 of the machine; 55 indicates the driving motor for the varnishing aggregate or lacquer applying unit 51; 56 is the driving motor for the work transferring device 53, the revolving work holding head 54 and the conveyor chain; whereas 57 is the driving motor coordinated to the spindles of the revolving head holding the workpieces. Under certain conditions, in such a case the varnishing aggregate or lacquer applying unit can be interchanged with the printing unit, but in that case a separate motor must be coordinated to the vamishing aggregate or lacquer applying unit; for it is of importance in such case that the speed regulation is exact and infinitely variable. Whereas, if a printing unit is provided, a common drive must be provided, because in that case it is of importance to get the speeds of all the elements harmonized with one another.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, I wish to have it understood-that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for treating collapsible tubes by operatingon the surfaces of the tubes in a continuous flow, said machine comprising a plurality of processing units arranged in succession to one another and connected with each other by a conveyor element in the form of a conveyor chain, wherein at least one of said processing units contains a printing means and a revolving work holding head that carries the workpieces on spindles and offers them successively in the course of a step-by-step motion to the printing means, a work transferring device to transferring the said workpieces from the said revolving head to the said conveyor chain and vice versa. said work transferring device cooperating with both the said revolving head and the sad conveyor chain, wherein, within a processing unit, the said printing means, the said revolving head and the said work transferring device are combined to form a unit having a closed blocklike casing an at least one driving device coordinated with the said printing means, said printing means being detachably connected with the said driving device and being removably attached to the said unit and being shiftable about a vertical axis with respect to said revolvinawork holding head. I

. The machine set forth in clarm 1, having a plurality of printing means interchangeable with one another.

3. The machine set forth in claim 1, wherein the casing of the unit has the shape of an L with two boxlike-shaped legs, the upstanding vertical leg containing the work transferring device, whereas the horizontal leg carries the printing means and the revolving work holding head.

4. The machine set forth in claim 3, wherein the said printing means is releasably supported on the said casing of the said unit in the area of the leg of the L opposite to the said work transferring device the said revolving work holding head being situated between the vertical upstanding leg of the Land the printing means attached to the said casing.

5. The machine set forth in claim 3, wherein the frame of said machine comprises two boxlike-shaped parts, including a longitudinally extending part extending horizontally and corresponding to the horizontal leg of the L and a vertical boxlike part corresponding to the vertical upstanding leg of the L and containing the work transferring device, the said two parts being releasably flanged together.

6. The machine set forth in claim 3, wherein the horizontal leg of the L contains a single driving motor driving on the one hand the work transferring device and the conveyor chain coordinated thereto, and on the other hand the revolving work holding head and the printing means.

7. The machine set forth in claim 6, wherein the driving power is transmitted. to the said printing means by two interconnected rotatable toothed wheels and removable from one another and releasable when in the inoperative position, of which wheels the one is mounted on the casing of the unit and the other on the printing means.

8. The machine set forth in claim 7, wherein the power to the printing means from the motor of the toothed wheel is transmitted by means of an endless driving member.

9. The machine set forth in claim 1, wherein the said printing means can be replaced by a varnishing aggregate or lacquer applying unit and vice versa. 

1. A machine for treating collapsible tubes by operating on the surfaces of the tubes in a continuous flow, said machine comprising a plurality of processing units arranged in succession to one another and connected with each other by a conveyor element in the form of a conveyor chain, wherein at least one of said processing units contains a printing means and a revolving work holding head that carries the workpieces on spindles and offers them successively in the course of a step-by-step motion to the printing means, a work transferring device to transferring the said workpieces from the said revolving head to the said conveyor chain and vice versa, said work transferring device cooperating with both the said revolving head and the sad conveyor chain, wherein, within a processing unit, the said printing means, the said revolving head and the said work transferring device are combined to form a unit having a closed blocklike casing an at least one driving device coordinated with the said printing means, said printing means being detachably connected with the said driving device and being removably attached to the said unit and being shiftable about a vertical axis with respect to said revolving work holding head.
 2. The machine set forth in claim 1, having a plurality of printing means interchangeable with one another.
 3. The machine set forth in claim 1, wherein the casing of the unit has the shape of an L with two boxlike-shaped legs, the upstanding vertical leg containing the work transferring device, whereas the horizontal leg carries the printing means and the revolving work holding head.
 4. The machine set forth in claim 3, wherein the said printing means is releasably supported on the said casing of the said unit in the area of the leg of the L opposite to the said work transferring device the said revolving work holding head being situated between the vertical upstanding leg of the Land the printing means attached to the said casing.
 5. The machine set forth in claim 3, wherein the frame of said machine comprises two boxlike-shaped parts, including a longitudinally extending part extending horizontally and corresponding to the horizontal leg of the L and a vertical boxlike part corresponding to the vertical upstanding leg of the L and containing the work transferring device, the said two parts being releasably flanged together.
 6. The machine set forth in claim 3, wherein the horizontal leg of the L contains a single driving motor driving on the one hand the work transferring device and the conveyor chain coordinated thereto, and on the other hand the revolving work holding head and the printing means.
 7. The machine set forth in claim 6, wherein the driving power is transmitted to the said printing means by two interconnected rotatable toothed wheels and removable from one another and releasable when in the inoperative position, of which wheels the one is mounted on the casing of the unit and the other on the printing means.
 8. The machine set forth in claim 7, wherein the power to the printing means from the motor of the toothed wheel is transmitted by means of an endless driving member.
 9. The machine set forth in claim 1, wherein the said printing means can be replaced by a varnishing aggregate or lacquer applying unit and vice versa. 